Arizona silver belt., 1887-06-11
ENCOUATER WITH 4 LYXx.

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 ranch, located on Coon creek, about
 three and one-half miles from where
 1t empties into Salt river. While the
 valley at this point is narrow, the
 banks of the creek are so densely coy
 cred with a growth Of willow, grape
 and other vines and small timber that
 a miniature swampy jungle is formed.
 My field, on ore side, is bordered by
 this small forest and my cabin is built near the creek. I live the lifo of an
 isolated bachelor, with only my saddle horse and cat for companions.
 On Saturday, about sunset, I walked to the upper end of the field to look at some mellon vines, followed by my cat which was, enjoying romp. giy- ing chase to birds that fitted along the edge of the brush. While stoop- ing to examine some vines, my back to the creek, 1 heard a sudden growI followed by a ritiable squall from my pet and turning saw him bounding from the brush closely pursued by a large lynx, making toward the cabin. So sudden was the attack that I was Isstartled and stoa1 confused for some seconds. Recovering presence of mind, 1 realized my exposed condition should the lynx assault me there, unarmed and seventy-fve yards from the house. As the cat pursued by the lynx had run in the direction of the door near est the creek, started full tilt for the other and I think I beat the lyax' tune. As 1 reached the door l heard low, fierce growl but could not take time to locate It. Seizing my 45 cal. Colts revolver, 1 turned to the door and saw the vicious creature nosing the ground over which I had run, about-thirty yards away. On seeing me, he began fearlessly to approach, when 1 fred The lynx stopped and crouched. I had shot too high but the report of the pistol had destroyed his resolution. 'fl9 eyed me fercely for a moment and then commenced to skulk away toward the creek. Again fired with the same result and by this time the animal had reached the brush.
 The following evening I was at work irrigating my peach trees in the same part of the field, nearer to the cabin. Being busy I had for the mo- ment forgotten the exciting incident of the previous day, when the cat at tracted my attention, gave growl and raised his bristles. Glancing in the direction tue cat. was looking, I saw the lynx coming bn trot toward the cabin from #hics he was about equi-distant witb. ny It was only a question as gsSh of us could reach the cabin fifEts I started on a bold run, shouting as I went to meet him. The lynx quickehed his gait to a sweeping Sallop and when about if teen feet from the S,tor l saw that he had me, and that 8 struggle for life must be the consequence.
 To have attemptt5to enter the door, I should have been9 9pnlpelled to turn my back to the lynS which would have gwen him every advantage, and as he crouched for his leap, I thought of this, and turningsI just had time to1 strike at hlm with all my power. He had jumped for my throat, and my fist struck him just behind the left shoulder and tic force of the blow to- gether with my jumping backward prevented his success. Falling at my feet he sprang up and seized me by the thigh making his teeth meet in the flesh, while hls long claws were buried in my hip and lower part of the leg. Knowing that l could not long continue this unequal contest, l caught the infuriated beast by the back of the neck with my right hand and began to drag myself to where my pistol hung, and appreciating that Q fall would be fatal, I mustered all the strength l could command and finally reached the pistol. Placing the muzzle close to hls left eye which was green with rdge, I pulled the trigger. With a convulsivs tremor, he drew up his hing legs, but dted with his fangS and front claws buried in my thigh. I tore them from my flesh as quickly as possible, and after washing the blood of, bathed the wounds with carbolic acid.
 Fearing serious results, I saddled my horse, and putting the dead lynx in a sack, went over to my nearest nelghbors ranch, two miles distant.
 Mir. Robert Anderson, after redress ing my wounds, measured the lynx and found tha5 1t was three feet, sev- en inches in length, two feet and eight inches in height, while his fangs were a little over an inch long. What I